Illuminating device.



H. V. G-AMBERLAIN & A. E. TROOP. ILLUMINATING DEVICE. APPLIGATIQN FILED JUNE 4. 1909.

1,000,580, Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

WTNSSES [NVE/.HORS

Allume] lamp and reflector and in the lield of illu- UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE.

HENRY v. CHAMEEELAIN, CE ,soMERvILIaa AND .ALFRED-E. TEoor, CE RCXEUHY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNCES'TC WILLIAM GRAY, or AMESEUEY, MASSACHUSETTS.

. ILLUMINATING DEVICE.

i speincmoaof Letters Patent.' Patented' Aug, 15, 1911, Application sled June 4, 1909. .serial No.

Britain, residing at Roxbury, in thecounty of Suolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improve? ments in Illuminating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The object of our invention is the pro vision of an illuminating device which shall be vadapted for use in connection with an automobile or other vehicle, or in other locations, lirstly, to display a light, such as a signal light, for example a Ared light and thus serving as a tail light, and, Secondly,

to illuminate by night an object or number or a sign or a number or sign plate such as is a license number or other designating or identifying symbol or character. l

The preferred and specific embodiment of our invention consists in a double bulb incandescent lamp havingtwolenses, preferably of a red color, properly wired and connected with a battery, and formed with a polished sheet metalshell serving as a reflector and adapted to be Secured to a vehicle body. For this latter' purpose the device has a downward extension, or other vertical portion perforated for fastening screws, which may also hold the number plate detachably or permanently immediately beneath the mination.

The vertical extension in thebest form of our invention is a desirable feature which practically Vmounts the lamp and its relector on'the upper edge of the common metallic number plate, or provides for the insertion of Such plate edgewisebetwee'n depending jaws firmly secured to the reflector or lamp casing, the space between the Iiaws being just sufficient for the thickness of the plate, and when the screws through the jaws v and plate are tightened the complete device is rigidly connected to the machine and is at once ornamental and useful.

The lamp with its reiiector may have fastenings at -the ends and one or more screws through its vertical portion securing thenumber plate in proper relative position, and

removably, without disturbing the lamp.,

The invention generally consists in certain novelties yof construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Figure 1 shows the illuminating device with a number plate located below thel device and Within the ield of its illumination. F1g.2 is a perspective view of the device. Fig. 3 is a cross' section of Fig. l ona line adjacent toa binding post. Fig. 4; is a longitudinal sectional view of the lamp bulb holder removed from the casing.

Referring to the Iseveral figures, the numeral l designates the outer casing of the lamp made by fashioning a metallic Sheet to a trough or concavo-convex shape so its length' will be several times greater than its width; 2, the bent over edges of the metal Serving to hold a glass slide in place; 3, the end pieces of the casing, one of them bent over at its edge 4 to hold one end of the glass .slide in place; 5, the polished metallic reector of substantially the same shape as the outer casing and secured within the said outer casing in any suitable way; 6, polished metallic end pieces or reflectors arranged obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the re- 'liector 5 and secured in position'by solder flector to allow light to pass to the lenses; 9,

the lens holders secured aboutl the holes 8 and projecting from the outer surfacel of the casing; 10, the lenses preferably of red colored glass set in the holders; 11, holes for screws to secure the lamp bulb holder in position wit-hin the casing; 12, a-glass slide; and 13, a pivoted fastener to hold the glass slide removably in place.

To thelongitudinal edge of the outer casing is secured, by solder or rivets or screws, a plate 14 having slots 15 to receive means, as straps, for detachably suspending a sign plate below the lamp and within the lield orv area of illumination. The plate 14 is provided with a groove 16, or a slot, formed b v bending over one edge 17 of the plate and p r through which'holes are passed screws which secure, the plate 14,' sign plate and,y lamp to an' object, 'as the body of a vehicle.:

Within thecasin is a lamp bulb' holder consisting of-'a'meta 'e cylinders@ havjnga.

' the casing and reflector, said plate25 also i' binding post 22 and with internally thread.-

ed tubular sections 23 at the ends to-receive the electricvlight bulbs 24e-each threaded at' the base; and a plate 25 with a turned and perforatededge 26 back of which is located ainctallic ba-r 27 with threaded holes -to re# ceivescrews 28 passedthrough vholes y11"'in having arms 29 bent overandsoldered to the .tubular sections 23, as shown. The second binding post 30 is located ina hole 7 and is in contact with the plate 25. sul ating ,material lis provided between the A I plate 25 and the cylinder 21 andbindng nect with a source post 22 so the circuit Ais completejbetweenbinding post 22, the lamp 'lilaments the plate 25, and bindingpost 30, to which binding posts conductors are attached which con- Upon reference to the drawing it'willbei seen that the electric light bulbs are located in li'ne with the holesj'through the reflectorv and casing and also -in line with the lenses;

and that the polished surface of the metallic reflector will reflect the rays of light downwardly upon the sign.v

From the foregoing-description it becomes obvious that we have provided adevice'which will :effectively illuminate a sign or sign plate, and which also serves .as a signal or tail lamp for a vehicle, and the main por.

tions of the device may be adapted for both purposes or for either-purpose.

One sign plate can be substituted for another however the same isconnected withl 'from the lamp will pass through the glassplate and illuminate the number plate.

2. The combination with a lamp casing having an electric lamp at the interior thereof, a signal lens, and a glass plate closing an opening in the casing and disposed in aplane at an angle to the-plane of the lens,"

. of a sign plate; and means for connecting the said casing with the sign plate disposed' '55 below said casing so the light from the lamp will passthrough' the minato the sign plate. 3. A combined signal `and number plate illuminating Qdevice for automobiles, compr'ising a casing having-openingsin angu-v lar-ly disposed planes, 'a signal lens in one of.' the said openings,a glass in the other opening, an electric light bulb .Within theinterior .of'the casing, and means for vconnecting the device with a sign platedisposed Suitable inof electrical energyas a hole vthrough the casino' glass plate and illu:-

casing, of a sign plate, and means for supdeviceconsisting -of 4a metallic casing of greater' length than Width and troughshaped attlie central portion, an electric lamp and holder at the inner surface of the' casing, a lens located opposite the lamp and in line with'ahole throughth'e casing, of a sign plate having its upper edge located in lineV With-and aclJacent the casing and eX- tcnding below the same, and means for de- Ktachablyy securing the sign plate in place,

said casing b eing'provi'ded with an opening through which light can fall upon the sign plm- 5. An. illuminating device consisting of a.

Y metallic'casing of greater length than Width and vtrough-shaped at`v its central portion, an

of thel casing, a lens located opposite the` lamp and in line with a hole through the cas# ing, a 4glass held -in position at theedges of the casing, and means in connection with the rear surface of the casing fordetachably connecting a sign plate with and below'the said device. c

a 6. lAn illuminating device consisting of a metallic casing of greater length thanvvidth and trough-shaped at the central portion, an electriclampand holder at the inner surface ofthe casing, a lens located opposite the lamp and in lin'e with a hole-t-hrough the casing, a. glass below the lens and engaged by the vedges of the casing and with the casing inclosing tbe lamp, and ineanssecured, to the rear surface of the casing for securing the device to a support. 7.,Anvilluminating devi'ceconsisting of a metallic concavo convex casing of greater electric lamp and holderat the inner surface lOCIl length than Width and trough-shaped at its central portion, an electric lamp and holder at the inner surfaceof the casing, a lens lo-` cated opposite 'the lamp and in linewith a g, a glass plate held in. position by the edges of the concavo conveX casing, means` in connection with the casing for attaching the saine to a support,

and also means for supporting a sign plate.

8., Thecombination with an illuminating device consisting of a metallic concavo conv`eX casing of greater length than width and trough-shaped at its centralportion, an electric lamp and vholder at the inner surface of the, casing, a glass plate held by the edges of i the casing and With said casingA inclosing' the lamp, and a plate at the rear surface of the port-ing the plate below the casing and metallic casing of t reiiector atthe inner surface ofthe casing,

shaped at its central portion, an electric lamp and holder' at the inner surface of the casing, a glass closing the opening in the casing, and means for .securing the casing to a support, of a sign plate, and means for ysupporting the plate below and within the area of illumination.

10. An illuminating device consisting of a eater length than width and trough-shape at its central portion, a

reflectors at the ends of the casing obliquely 'disposed tothe longitudinal a'Xis of the casing, an electric lamp andholder at the inner surface of the casing, a lens located opposite the lamp and in line with the holes through the casing and reflector, and a plate secured to the rearsurface of the casing baclr of the electric lamp.

11. An illuminating device consisting of a metallic casing of greater length than width and trough-shaped at its central portion, a holder secured within and to the casing mid- 'way of its ends, two electric lamps with their bases secured to opposite en ds of lsaid holder, two lenses, one located opposite each lamp and inline with a hole through the casing, a glass plate closing the opening in the casing, and means in connection with the casing for securing the device to a support.

12. The'combination with an illuminating device consisting of a metallic casing of greater l length than width and trough- Copies of' this patent` 4may,beobtain'e -for Surface of the casing,

shaped at its central portion,'two electric lamps and a holder at the inner surface of the casing, two lenses, one'located opposite each lamp and inline with a hole through the/casing, a reiiector at the inner surface ofl thecasing, a glass plate which with the casingentirely incloses the lamps, and means in connection with the casing for securing the device to a support, of a sign plate disposed below and at anangle to the glass plate in the casing.

13. An illuminating device consisting of a metallic casing of greater lengththan width and trough-shaped at its central portion, two electric lamps and a holder at the inner surface of the casing, two lenses, one located opposite each lamp and inline with a hole through the casing, a reflector at the inner a sliding glass plate closing the opening in the casing, and means located at the rear surface `of the casing oppositethe lenses for securing the device to a support. A

14. An illuminating'device consisting of a metallic casing of greater length than width and trough-shaped at its central portion, two electrlc lampsand a holder at the inner surface of the casing, two lenses, one located opposite each lamp and inline with'a hole through the casing, a glass plate disposed at an angle to the plane of the lenses and with the casing entirely inclosing the lamps, -a plate secured to the casing, and means 1n connection with said plate for supporting a sign plate.

15. An illuminating device consisting of a metallic casing of greater length than width and trou h-shaped at its central portion,

posed at an angle to the plane of the lens and with the casing entirely inclosing' the lamp, a plate at the rear surface of the casing, a sign plate, and means for supporting the sign'plate below the casing and within the area of illumination.

17. An illuminating device consisting of a` casing, an electric lamp and holder at the inner surface of the casing,a lens located in front of the lamp, a plate at the rear surface of the casing, and a sign plate; said sign plate being supported by the plate at the rear of the casing and within the area of illumination. l.

18. An illuminating device consisting of a casing, an electric lamp and holder at the inner surface of the casing, a lens located in front of the lamp, a plate at the rear surfaceV of the casing, a sign plate supported by the said plate within the area of illumination,

and a glass below the lamp and above the sign plate.

19. The combination in an illuminating device for automobile number plates, of a casing having a light producing means at the interior thereof, a signal lens set in the front of the casing, a glass plate set in the casing at its lower edge and below the light producing means, which latter is inclosed by the casing, lens, and glass, a number plate disposed below the said glass plate so said number plate will be illuminated by the light, and means for detachably securing the said casing and number plate to a vehicle.

In testimony whereof, we affix our signaturesin the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY V. CHAMBERLAIN. ALFRED E. TROOP.

i Witnesses:

DAvm J. MALONEY, M. SULLIVAN..

ve cents each, by.addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

